Inside the Star

NHL's secret constitution revealed

All the secrets are out. The NHL constitution is now a matter of public record, as is the fact that Toronto Argonauts co-owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski are among four different bidders looking to buy the Phoenix Coyotes.

The first page of the NHL's constitution, revealed as evidence in a Phoenix courtroom June 6, 2009, is seen in this image.

By:Kevin McGranSPORTS REPORTER, Published on Sat Jun 06 2009

All the secrets are out. The NHL constitution is now a matter of public record, as is the fact that Toronto Argonauts co-owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski are among four different bidders looking to buy the Phoenix Coyotes.

Both were part of court filings today, part of the tit-for-tat messy business in the fight for the future of the Coyotes.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman revealed the five groups in a court filing today, arguing to bankruptcy court judge Redfeild Baum the team should not be sold because owner Jerry Moyes is ignoring the league's constitution.

Bettman said Moyes hasn't made a "good faith" search for purchasers, instead jumping on to Jim Balsillie's bandwagon. Balsillie wants to buy the team for $212.5 million U.S. but is seeking the court's help to move the team to Hamilton over the NHL's objections.

The court will hear arguments on the relocation issue on Tuesday. Lawyers from all sides filed their arguments overnight.

Cynamon and Sokolowski could not be reached for comment.

Bettman said the other groups include Chicago sports magnate Jerry Reinsdorf, Coyotes minority owner John Breslow and a Phoenix businessman who wants to remain anonymous.

"These local expression of interest in owning the Coyotes ... and the city of Glendale's willingness to participate in enhanced partnership initiatives designed to improve the team's financial performance ... all indicate that relocation may well be unnecessary," Bettman wrote.

But the secretive world of the NHL's backrooms is now out in the open.

The NHL's constitution – how it works, how the league is operated – is revealed thanks to the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy case.

The entire document was included in filings that go to the heart of the legal case as to whether a bankruptcy court judge has the power to sell the Coyotes against the NHL's wishes and allow it to move to Hamilton, also against the NHL's wishes.

Lawyers for Moyes and would-be buyer Jim Balsillie have marked up parts of the constitution they say are unlawful and anti-competitive, including parts that protect the 50-mile territory of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and allow the board of governors to vote on ownership and relocation.

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